President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince MBS Exchange Fist Bump Before Controversial Meeting
Saudi Press Agency via AP
We ran the numbers: There are 3,309 news articles covering this topic. 62% (2,044) are left-leaning, 26% (876) are centrist, and 12% (389) are right-leaning.
President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) met on Friday to discuss a wide range of issues, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and oil concerns. While left-leaning articles focus on critiques of the meeting between Biden and MBS, right-leaning articles focus on evasive answers from the Biden administration.
A left-leaning article from The Washington Post highlighted how President Biden held what he called a “straight forward and direct” conversation with MBS about the murder of Khashoggi. Biden reportedly said that he believed MBS was responsible for the killing of Khashoggi, which MBS disagreed with. However, Biden’s first bump with the Saudi Crown Prince irked human rights activists who saw the action as an acceptance and closeness with the nation.
USA Today published a centrist article reporting on how Biden faced criticism for his fist bump and meeting with MBS after vowing to make them a “pariah” on the world stage. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) lambasted the fist bump, tweeting that “one fist bump is worth a thousand words.” In addition to the murder of Khashoggi, Biden and MBS discussed energy, human rights, and security concerns.
A right-leaning article from the New York Post highlighted how Biden refused to say if he’d bring up the murder of Khashoggi with MBS. The article also notes that Jake Sullivan, White House national security advisor, sidestepped a reporter’s question about criticism from Khashoggi’s fiancee.
USA Today published a centrist article reporting on how disagreements between Lapid and Biden disrupted an otherwise “kumbaya” meeting. The U.S. and Israel signed a joint agreement on consensus topics and on emerging technology. The article also discusses Biden met with Benjamin Netanyahu, current opposition leader and former Israeli Prime Minister.
A right-leaning article from Fox News focused on how Biden and Lapid agreed that Iran would never obtain nuclear weapons. Biden stated that ensuring Iran never can build a nuclear weapon is “a vital security interest” and Lapid stated that if Iran continues to deceive the world they “will pay a heavy price.”
From the center
Biden exchanges fist bump with Saudi crown prince before controversial meeting
USA Today
From the right
MBS denied ‘personal responsibility’ for Khashoggi killing after US-Saudi fist bump
New York Post